Nicholas Upton, 19, a junior at George Washington University and a graduate of Joel Barlow High School in Redding, was last seen Sunday when he disappeared into the surf while swimming in the East Cape Province around 10:30 p.m. local time, or 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, according to a statement from the university.

Rescue crews sent out divers and helicopters in an effort to find him but called off the search Tuesday, according to Upton's mother, Margaret Mirowski.